ISU SAMPAH SELESAI, ISU JALAN MASIH BUNTU

WAWANCARA.... Sabahkini.Net sedang mewawancara A.M.Ibnu mengenai masalah Semporna.

Oleh: SHAIMON S JUMADI Foto : AZIZUL SANARUL

KEROSAKAN jalan raya yang terdapat di Pusat Bandar Semporna dan kawasan-kawasan lainnya adalah berpunca daripada kegagalan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan oleh syarikat konsesi yang dilantik oleh kerajaan Negeri iaitu Kekal Mewah Sdn Bhd dan Syarikat Globinaco.

Bagaimanapun Majlis Daerah Semporna (MDS) dan Pejabat Daerah yang merupakan agensi kerajaan tetap akan terus memainkan peranaan penting ke arah memantau dan mengambil sebarang langkah dalam menangani semua permasalahan yang sedang melanda daerah Semporna.

Perkara ini dijelaskan sendiri oleh Pegawai Daerah Semporna, Abdul Mohd Ibnu Abdul Kadir dalam satu temubual khas dengan Wartawan Kanan Sabahkini.Net yang dalam rangka tugasnya ke Semporna di pejabatnya, kelmarin.

“Saya amat berterima kasih kepada pihak Sabahkini.Net kerana menghantar wartawannya menjelajah ke beberapa tempat di daerah Semporna untuk mengenal pasti beberapa masalah yang sedang dihadapi daerah ini,” ujar A.M.Ibnu.

A.M.Ibnu menegaskan terdapat dua jenis jalan raya yang terdapat di daerah Semporna iaitu jalan negeri yang ditadbir Majlis Daerah Semporna (MDS) dan jalan persekutuan yang ditadbir oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR).

BERLUBANG.....Nordin Ajirul Penduduk Kg Senallang menunjukan jalan berlubang di jalan Baru yang tidak diselenggarakan oleh Kekal Mewah dan Globinaco.

Kerajaan Negeri Sabah, kata A.M.Ibnu telah melantik dua syarikat konsesi iaitu Kekal Mewah dan Globinaco untuk melaksanakan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan jalan di bawah tadbir urus MDS.

“Saya perlu jelaskan di sini masyarakat di Semporna mungkin tidak sedar wujudnya syarikat konsesi tersebut bagi menyelenggara kerosakan jalan dan sering menuding jari kepada MDS jika berlaku kerosakan, tetapi MDS terpaksa berdiam diri dan tidak membuat sebarang kenyataan akhbar kerana tidak ingin mengeruhkan keadaan," kata A.M.Ibnu.

Bagaimanapun kata A.M.Ibnu, semua teguran yang diterima daripada masyarakat dan media dibawa ke meja mesyuarat di MDS untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian semua isu yang dibebankan kepada kerajaan, termasuk sampah sarap, kerosakan jalan raya, sistem perparitan dan sebagainya.

"Setakat ini kita tidak tahu apa sudah perancangan syarikat konsesi tersebut terutama Kekal Mewah Sdn.Bhd untuk mengatasi semua masalah yang telah kita salurkan kepada mereka dan ini telah menimbulkan keraguan dan tandatanya kepada kita.

"Peranan apakah yang mereka (Kekal Mewah dan Globinaco) mainkan bagi mempertingkatkan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan dan menaik taraf jalan yang yang diserahkan kepada mereka. Kita harap mereka akan proaktif dan menjalankan tugas mereka dengan penuh amanah," kata A.M.Ibnu lagi.

Bercakap mengenai Pusat Pembuangan Sampah di SK Pekan II, Semporna, A.M.Ibnu menegaskan pusat tersebut sudahpun ditutup seminggu lalu dan telah dipindahkan ke tapak baru iaitu di Jalan Pantai buat sementara waktu.

Kata A.M.Ibnu, pihaknya masih menunggu Pusat Pelupusan Sampah yang kekal di Tagasan diserahkan kepada MDS oleh kontraktor yang dilantik setelah siap kelak.

Pusat Pembuangan Sampah di SK Pekan II kata A.M.Ibnu sudah wujud sekal 30 tahun dahulu sebelum pembinaan sekolah dan perkampungan di sekeliling kawasan tersebut.

"Pada mulanya tempat ini agak jauh daripada kampung dan dua buah sekolah berkenaan. Kita kesal kerana semasa mereka mahu membina sekolah tersebut dan kampung di sekelilingnya dahulu, mereka gagal mengemukakan plan induk kepada MDS untuk kelulusan," kata A.M.Ibnu.

Kata A.M.Ibnu, memandangkan tapak pembuangan sampah tersebut sudah lama wujud, maka jika mereka mengemukakan plan induk kepada MDS, sudah tentu akan ditolak kerana kedudukan bangunan sekolah dan kampung di persekitaran memang tidak sesuai.

Selaku Pengerusi MDS, A.M.Ibnu berkata beliau sentiasa memang mengambil inisiatif untuk menangani segala masalah yang terdapat di Semporna tetapi tertakluk kepada bidang kuasa yang terhad, maka semua pihak menyalahkan MDS.

“Kegagalan pihak konsesi yang diamanahkan untuk melaksanakan kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan menyebabkan masyarakat menuding jari kepada MDS sambil melemparkan pelbagai tohmahan-tohmahan yang tidak berasas," kata A.M.Ibnu yang memaklumkan MDS hanya mampu menulis surat atau berbincang dengan syarikat konsesi berkenaan kerana syarikat konsesi tertakluk kepada perjanjian yang dibuat di antara Kementerian Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan (KKTP).

A.M.Ibnu menambah, isu sampah sudah selesai tetapi mengenai pembangunan prasarana lain akan dinyatakan pada episod akan datang melalui 'Ops Wawasan' bersama Sabahkini.net bagi meninjau keadaan yang sebenarnya.

SAM WORTHINGTON EVER READY FOR AVATAR SEQUEL

No one is more excited about a sequel to Avatar than the Avatar hero himself, Sam Worthington.

The actor says he looks forward to reprise his role as Jake Sully in the smashing sci-fi blockbuster.

"Whenever Jim (director James Cameron) says. If he called me up this afternoon I'd be there," Sam told Digital Spy of Avatar 2 and 3.

Cameron is planning to film the two follow-ups back-to-back, with the first slated to arrive in December 2014. (digitalspy)

MALE POLE DANCER WORKS UP A SWEAT

BEST.....Paul Bradley reckons pole-dancing is probably the best work-out he's ever had.

LUCKY father-of-two Paul Bradley has found a clever way to watch pole dancers without getting into trouble - by becoming one.

Happily married Paul, 53, has made loads of new friends through his hobby - who all happen to be toned and blonde.

The IT worker, from West Wellow, Hants, Hampshire in the UK, spends hours in the dance studio working up a sweat with his super-fit classmates.

And Paul reckons it's probably the best work-out he's ever had.

He said: "I get so much stick over being a male pole dancer but I absolutely love it - let's just say, there are loads of benefits."

"A female friend of mine got into it. She knew how I like to stay fit and promised me I would be impressed with the workout."

"She was right. It is a great way to keep fit and I can honestly say it's one of the toughest workouts I ever done."

"I thought I was fit but I can't believe how much stronger I am since taking the class."

Paul has even installed a pole in his garage where he and his friends can practice.

The former rugby player and competitive weightlifter says pole fitness routines have boosted his strength and stamina so much he can outstrip men half his age for fitness.

He said: "My 25-year-old son challenged me to a sit up contest recently. I did 50 sit ups with a 60kg kettlebell on my chest with ease - he didn't stand a chance." (web.orange.co.uk

PERARAKAN BANTAH PENYENARAIAN FELDA

Oleh : ZULAIKHA ZULKIFLI

KIRA-KIRA 200 orang berarak dari Masjid Putrajaya ke depan Pejabat Perdana Menteri tidak jauh dari situ bagi membantah penyenaraian Felda Global Venture Holding (FGVH) di Bursa Malaysia.

Perhimpunan yang diketuai Pengerusi Anak Peneroka Felda (ANAK) Mazlan Aliman (kiri) itu turut disertai, Sasterawan Negara Datuk A Samad Said dan Ketua Biro Felda PKR Suhaimi Said.

Orang ramai yang menyertai perarakan itu turut membawa sepanduk yang bertulis 'kami tolak FGHV', 'Selamatkan Felda' kain panjang yang ditandatangan orang ramai bagi menolak penyenaraian.

Mereka juga melaungkan melaungkan 'Reformasi' dan slogan anti-Pengerusi Felda Tan Sri Isa Samad berbunyi "Turun Isa Samad" dan "Isa Samad tipu peneroka".

NONEBagaimanapun, ketika hendak menyerahkan memorandum, hanya lima wakil sahaja yang dibenarkan masuk ke dalam pejabat perdana menteri, termasuk A Samad, Mazlan, Suhaimi dan Pengerusi JINGGA 13 Fariz Musa.

"Kita dah beri penerangan pada (wakil pejabat Najib) S Azhar. Kita juga minta perdana menteri meluangkan masa untuk bertemu dan bersemuka dengan kita untuk nyatakan tuntutan daripada peneroka," katanya pada sidang media selepas menyerahkan memorandum di Putrajaya hari ini.

Selain itu, Mazlan sekali lagi mengulangi desakannya supaya perdana menteri agar membatalkan penyenaraian Felda kerana ia merupakan kepentingan orang Melayu.

"Bagaimana nasib orang Melayu nanti jika tanah orang Melayu nanti lenyap. Hampir 97 peratus Felda ini orang Melayu.

"Felda kini dalam krisis dan pergolakan yang mana ia tak pernah berlaku sebelum ini. Saya harap jangan sebab nak pertahankan Isa Samad, (seramai) 1.6 juta warga Felda hancur," katanya.

Perarakan itu juga kelihatan penuh warna warni apabila terdapat peniaga mengambil kesempatan baju-T kempen membantah penyenaraian FGVH.

69 PEKERJA ASING DIBERKAS IMIGRESEN

By : WILLIE JUDE JUNAIDI

PERIKSA....MOHAMMAD MENTEK (kanan) memeriksa salah satu dokumen milik seorang pekerja asing dalam serbuan itu kelmarin.

SERAMAI 69 pendatang asing tanpa izin (Pati) yang bekerja di kawasan tapak pembinaan ditahan Jabatan Imigresen dalam dua serbuan berasingan di sini kelmarin.

Pengarah Jabatan Imigresen Sabah, Mohammad Mentek, berkata serbuan yang dibuat kira-kira jam 10 pagi itu dilakukan di dua lokasi tapak pembinaan iaitu di Jalan Kelombong dan Kampung Gudon di sini.

“Dalam serbuan pertama di kawasan tapak pembinaan di Jalan Kolombong, seramai 40 Pati yang terdiri daripada 20 lelaki, (9) wanita dan (11) kanak-kanak dan dipercayai daripada negara Filipina dan Indonesia ditahan.

“Terdapat beberapa pekerja yang cuba melarikan diri dan bersembunyi ketika serbuan dibuat, namun usaha mereka gagal apabila berjaya diberkas oleh sepasukan penguatkuasa Jabatan Imigresen,” katanya ketika ditemui di tempat kejadian kelmarin.

Mohammad Mentek berkata, dalam serbuan kedua, di kawasan tapak perumahan Kampung Gudon, seramai 29 Pati ditahan daripada negara Filipina dan Indonesia atas pelbagai kesalahan mengikut peraturan Jabatan Imigresen.

“Daripada jumlah itu, seramai 21 lelaki berjaya diberkas, manakala seramai empat wanita dan empat kanak-kanak ditahan atas pelbagai kesalahan mengikut peraturan Jabatan Imigresen.

“Hasil pemeriksaan juga mendapati tapak perumahan ini sudah pernah diserbu sebelum ini, namun berdasarkan maklumat bahawa sering kawasan perumahan itu sering dimasuki pencuri disebabkan kehadiran Pati di tapak perumahan terbabit, dan pihak kami membuat pemantauan sebelum bertindak menyerbu kawasan berkenaan,” katanya.

Menurutnya, berdasarkan dua serbuan ini, sebanyak 120 individu diperiksa dan hasilnya berjaya menahan seramai 69 Pati atas pelbagai kesalahan antaranya tidak mempunyai sebarang dokumen perjalanan sah, dokumen tamat tempoh dan menggunakan pas lawatan sosial untuk bekerja.

“Semua mereka yang ditahan akan dibawa ke Ibu Pejabat Jabatan Imigresen Kota Kinabalu untuk pemeriksaan sebelum dihantar ke Pusat Tahanan Sementrara di Papar untuk dihantar pulang ke negara asal mereka.

“Sehubungan dengan itu, pihaknya berterima kasih kepada orang awam kerana sentiasa memberi kerjasama dengan Jabatan Imigrsen Sabah dalam usaha mengekang kemasukan Pati di negeri ini,” katanya. (theborneopost).

KILANG MINYAK SAWIT HAMPIR MUSNAH

By : MOHD NAZIB MACPEE.

PERIKSA.....Seorang anggota bomba sedang melakukan pemeriksaan di kawasan yang terlibat bagi memastikan keadaan selamat.

KETANGKASAN Pasukan Bomba dan Penyelamat Daerah Lahad Datu dalam memadamkan kebakaran yang berlaku di kilang memproses minyak sawit melibatkan sebuah mesin ‘Clean Cooling Tower’ (CCT) telah berjaya menyelamatkan kilang yang dianggarkan bernilai jutaan ringgit daripada musnah terbakar.

Pemangku Ketua Balai Bomba dan Penyelamat Lahad Datu, PBK ll Abu Bakar Taraji berkata pihaknya telah menerima panggilan kecemasan berhubung kejadian dekat jalan Kastam Baru kira-kira jam 10.48 pagi kelmarin itu dan mengerahkan seramai enam anggota bomba diketuai oleh Penyelia Ahmad Dia Salim bersama sebuah jentera bomba dan sebuah kenderaan Perodua Kembara bergegas ke tempat kejadian.

“Sebaik tiba di lokasi kira-kira jam 10.55 pagi, anggota kita telah mengambil masa lebih kurang 27 minit untuk mengawal dan sekaligus berjaya memadamkan api pada jam 11.18 pagi,” katanya.

Menurutnya, tiga anggotanya terpaksa menggunakan alat pernafasan sebelum memasuki ruangan dalam CCT bagi melakukan kerja-kerja pemadaman menggunakan pancutan daripada jentera bomba.

Abu Bakar berkata, pihaknya ingin mengucapkan syabas dan taniah di atas keberanian dan tindakan pantas Pasukan Tindakan Kecemasan (ERT) kilang terbabit dalam melakukan kerja-kerja mengawal dan memadam api dari bahagian luar daripada terus merebak ke bangunan berhampiran.

“Ini merupakan satu kelebihan kepada sesebuah syarikat perkilangan sekiranya pihak mereka ada menyediakan pasukan tindakan kecemasan. Pasukan ini akan dapat bertindak lebih awal sebelum ketibaan pasukan Bomba dan Penyelamat ke lokasi kebakaran,” katanya.

Pihaknya juga berharap kepada mana-mana syarikat perkilangan yang telah ada pasukan ERT agar mereka dapat didedahkan dengan latihan memadam api kebakaran sekurang-kurangnya empat kali setahun. (theborneopost)

LDP SUDAH SERAHKAN SENARAI CALON

PARTI Liberal Demokratik (LDP) sudah menyerahkan senarai nama calon bagi pilihan raya umum ke-13 akan datang kepada pucuk pimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN), kata Presiden Datuk V.K Liew.

"Kami sudah menyerahkan senarai calon. Sebenarnya kami telah menyediakan senarai nama itu sejak tahun lepas," katanya kepada Bernama.

Beliau berkata mereka yang dicadangkan sebagai calon bukan hanya dianggap 'boleh menang' tetapi merupakan calon yang 'sanggup dan berupaya' kerana LDP juga mahu menyediakan barisan pemimpin pelapis bagi menghadapi landskap politik yang sentiasa berubah.

"Kami tidak menyediakan senarai calon hanya sekadar untuk meletakkan calon bertanding pilihan raya. Para calon adalah golongan profesional dan mereka yang berkelayakan bukan sahaja muka baru, muda dan ingin berkhidmat tetapi juga pemimpin masa depan yang sanggup dan berupaya," katanya.

Liew berkata senarai itu telah disediakan dengan pertimbangan permohonan LDP untuk bertanding di enam kawasan yang ada selepas Parti Progresif Parti (SAPP) keluar daripada BN pada 17 Sept, 2008. (BERNAMA)

TITANIC SONG MAKES ME WANNA THROW UP

SICK...Kate Winslett is sick of My Heart Will Go On.

CELINE Dion’s My Heart Will Go On has served as Titanic’s haunting theme song since it hit the cinemas in 1997, and the movie’s lead actress, Kate Winslett, said the tune makes her sick.

Winslett, who recently celebrated Titanic’s 3D re-release, admitted that Dion’s track 'haunts' her wherever she goes.

“(I feel) like throwing up (when I hear it). No, I shouldn’t say that. No, actually, I do feel like throwing up.

"I wish I could say, 'Oh listen, everybody! It's the Celine Dion song!' But I don't. I just have to sit there, you know, kind of straight-faced with a massive internal eye roll,” Winslett revealed to MTV News.

The 38-year-old actress went on to explain that people tend to associate the song with her, like when she walks into a bar or restaurant with a pianist, they’d play the tune.

Kate Winslett is sick of My Heart Will Go On. (itskindofmyscene.com)

"It's thrilling for people to surprise me with the Celine Dion song," she laughed.

"I did a talk show recently in Italy and they actually had a live pianist who started gently playing the theme song. I was not even gently, rather severely, urged to go and sing it as though I had in fact sung it myself in the first place.

“It was like, 'No! I'm not going to do that.' They're like, 'Oh no, come on it will be funny.' No, it won't be funny. At all. And I'm not going to."

Unfortunately for the Oscar winner, the song is not the only thing that bothers her. When it comes to boats, Winslet doesn’t get spared.

"Honestly, I actually now get onto boats and say, 'No jokes, OK? No jokes. Can we just move on from that? And if you have any jokes, let's just get them out of the way right now. Thank you. Anyone? Jokes, jokes? OK, moving on.' And then they still tell jokes," Winslet said.

REENACT....Winslet gets asked to reenact this scene from Titanic a lot.

Of course the most common one would be for her to reenact the iconic scene of her and Leonardo DiCaprio on the rail.

However having said all this, Winslet is a real trooper about the jokes.

She understands how the film has touched many and with the re-release, Titanic will sink deep into the hearts of a whole new generation, including the actress’ kids who’ll be watching it for the first time.

About the 3D version of the movie set for an April 4 release, Winslet reckoned there isn’t anything negative about it.

"It's very different and much more present. It's bigger — if you can believe that — but it is and you really do feel like you're in it." (mtv.com)

KL HAS SABAH UNDER SIEGE

By : AWANG AHMAD SAH

THE FEDERAL Government, speaking on behalf of all Malaysians, has been harping on the ill treatment by Israel against the people of Palestine for so long. Yes, the Israelists have cordoned off regions in Palestine, such Gaza, making if difficult to bring in food supplies. During the premiership of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, food and medicine had to be smuggled through Egypt.

But Malaysia is notorious for being hypocritical, making statements at the international level and not realizing that what it is complaining about abroad is happening in Malaysia itself. The former PM, Tun Mahathir was wellknown for bashing the Jews, criticizing racial and religious oppressions in other countries, but in his own country the same things were happening.

What we are seeing currently is a case of the Federal Government criticizing Israel for putting Palestine under siege, but parallels of what Israel is accused of doing are taking place in Sabah. We may haven’t realized it but these things are happening right under our noses. The Cabotage Policy is one good example.

With this policy the Federal Government is having Sabah under some sort of siege or oppression by preventing food supplies from getting to Sabah directly from their supplying countries. Ships are required to go to Port Klang first, even if such ships have to pass by Sabah waters to get to Klang.

It is as if there is a wall around Sabah which only Port Klang can open for us to get our imported goods, and this way the goods become a lot more expensive. And who gets the benefits? Umno-connected contract shippers who are making millions from the sufferings of Sabahans.

Because of the Cabotage Policy alone many poor people are made to suffer even worse because of unnecessary inflation in Sabah and Sarawak.

This policy of economic discrimination by the Federal Government, has caused Sabah’s commodity prices to be a lot higher than in the Peninsula, has also caused us to lose the economic benefits of more foreign direct investments (FDIs) that should have come to Sabah.

Because imported goods have to go to Port Klang first, investors are scared of starting manufacturing businesses in Sabah due to the unnecessary higher costs. The local manufacturers have long been complaining about this problem.

This has resulted in scarce job opportunities, causing tens of thousands of our young people to go and find work in the Peninsula and Singapore. At the same time we have lost the benefit of trickle-down effects of otherwise higher employment and higher spending of employees in Sabah.

The difference in commodity prices is strange because in the higher-income society of the Peninsula, the prices of chicken is RM6 compared to RM10 in Sabah. It should be the other way round; chicken meat should be more expensive in the Peninsula because of the higher demand there (due to the higher population), and it should be a lot cheaper in Sabah where the demand is less (due to the much less population). But what’s happening is that we in Sabah have to pay a lot more for chicken meat due to the higher cost of rearing chicken – all due to the inflated prices of imported chicken feed due to the Cabotage Policy.

And the worse thing is people in the Peninsula, while spending less, are earning more than their counterparts in the Borneo states. Hotel boys in KL can earn up to RM1,600 or more (including tips) per month while their counterparts in KK would take less than RM1,000! We clearly have an economic system which is topsy-turvy, unfair and, to be honest, repressive!

And to make the whole situation even worse, we are being robbed off our natural resources which by now should have made extremely rich – our oil and gas, our lands (taken by Felda and Felcra), and our taxes which are in the billions per year.

Personally, even crying tears of blood wouldn’t be enough consolation for what Sabahans are losing and suffering from, and I can’t wait for the day when all these will be reversed, when justice will at last save Sabah from a bleak future.

(NOTE : Awang Ahmad Sah, Deputy President, STAR Sabah)

BOY CHAINED TO POLE FOR SKIPPING SCHOOL

SOK KHOM being chained to a power pole after his father discovered he was skipping school to play video games

Sok Khom being chained to a power pole after his father discovered he was skipping school to play video games

A Cambodian dad is in trouble with the law after he chained his son to a power pole for skipping school to play video games.

The 13-year-old boy, Sok Khorn, was freed from the pole by a locksmith after neighbors called police, AFP reports.

The boy was also reportedly beaten.

His father, 40-year-old Sok Thoeun, fled the scene and is wanted on child abuse charges, according to the report.

"He is still on the run,” an official told the AFP. “This kind of torture is not acceptable.”

According to the Phnom Penh Post, Sok Thoeun was known to be violent towards his children.

"I think his actions were very inhumane and cruel to his son,” a villager told the local newspaper.

The on-the-run father reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison. (nydailynews)

PAIRIN FORGETS KDMS SUFFERED

By : PETER MARAJIN

THE GLOWING tribute by PBS President, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, to current Chief Minister Musa Aman does not go down well with Sabahans at large, especially the Kadazandusun community who more often than not, marginalised by Musa's UMNO-led government. Either Pairin must have forgotten, or he is just too detached from the reality.

How could Pairin, the Huguan Siou, stoop so low to 'angkat kaki' UMNO when he knows it best that during the tenure of Musa, the Kadazandusun community has lost much including their NCR lands.

Illegal immigrants also has engulfed our state, driving out the original Borneo natives into oblivion. Didn't Pairin and his PBS know that under this very government, the Kadazandusuns were deprived of jobs and promotions opportunities in both the public service and even in private?

Yet Pairin did nothing but instead glorifying and worshiping Musa and UMNO like gods of the heavens.

Today, Pairin in paying tribute to Musa's leadership, was reported to have said among others that "there is no doubt that he (Musa) is a very caring Chief Minister.." Pairin said this at the launching of a 390-page book on Musa titled 'Leading The Way - Musa Aman' by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Juhar Mahiruddin.